Motor-control system



Get. 2,1923, 1, 49,219

v H. JOHNSTON, ET AL 1 MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 18. 1921 fi ly. 4; INVENTORS WlTNESsES' Howard/iwfiflsfon v aadDgM/JC. 729mb Ody.

ATTORNEY v speed and direction of operation may be Patented et. 2, 1923.

nowenn H. JoHNs'roN, or EDGEWOOD, AND DONALD o. PEAIBODY, or TUR LE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA, AssraNoRs r0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING coMrANY, A conPoa rIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Application filed August 18, 1921. Serial No. 493,214.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, HOWARD H. JOHN- s'roN, a citizen ot'the United States, and a resident f Edgewood, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and DONALD C. PEABODY, a'citizen of the United States. and a resident of Turtle Creek, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Motorllontrol Systems, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention. relates to motor-control systems and it has particular relation to systems for governing vehicles from points relatively removed therefrom, such for example, as tower control systems for mine and mill locomotives or larry cars.

One object of our invention is toprovide a relatively simple and economical control system for governing the speed and direction operation of an electric vehicle from a station relatively removed therefrom;

Another object of our invention is to provide a control system for governing a plurality of motors whereby both their governed from a number of relatively distant stations although employing only a single control rail.

Heretotore, various control systems have been proposed for governing the speed of electric vehicles from points relatively removed theretronn, but such control sys-v tems have employed more than a single control rail to govern both the speed and direction of operation of the vehicle.

Briefly speaking, 'our invention consists ,in' providing a control system for governing a plurality of motors that comprises a single wire or control rail which may be energized from either the positive or the negative side of the supply circuit to vary the direction and speed of operation tors. 1

For a better understanding of our invention, reference'may be made to the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 of which is a view, in side ele vat-ion, of a plurality of bins and cars for loading and unloading material.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the main and the auxiliary control systems of of the moan electric locomotive employed to haul the cars shown in Figs 1 of the drawing;

.Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of stationary controllers thatmay be employed in conjunction with the control sysglaem illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing; an r l r Fig. 4 is" asequence chart showing the preferred order of closure otthe main contactors that are illustrated in Fig. 2. r

T Pr de;

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the r 7 drawing, a plurality of bins 1' to 5, inclu sive, are so constructed that various ma. terials, such as Llime', sandstone, ore and coke maybe deposited therein from cars 6, which travel upon an overhead trestle 7.

Each of the bins 1 to 5, inclusive, is.

provided with a chute 8 for directing the material flowing therefrom into a 'plurality of small larry cars 9, which are provided with compartments 10 for segregating the different materials that are carried'by each car.

An electric locomotive or other railway vehicle 11 is employed for hauling the cars 9. The locomotive 11 is provided with a plurality of motors 1 and 2, having armatures 3 and 4, respectively, and corresponding series field-magnet windings?) and 6. The motors 1 'and2 are energized from the rails 12 and 13 upon which the locomotive 11 operates. A line switch 14, series contactor 15, parallel-connecting contactors 16 and 17, transitional contactor 18 and accelcrating contac'to'rs v19 to 22, inclusive, are employed -to govern the energization and speed of the motors 1 and 2'; A plurality of, directional contactors or reversing switches 23 to'26, inclusive, are employed for governing the directionef operation of the'motor 1, and contactors 27 to 30, inclusive, are employed'for governing the direction of operation of the motor 2.

A controller 31 having an-Oit position,

a plurality of forward operating positions a and b and of reverse operating positions. g ands", is employed to govern the speed and direction of operation of the motors 1 and 2. The controller 81 is provided with a plurality ofcontrol fingers 32 to 39,iin-. elusive, which may be engaged by a plurality of contact segments 40 to 43, inclusive.

i A control rail 44 parallels the rails 12 and 13 and may be energized by a circuit through the-controller 31 in mannerhereinafter more {fully described.- A currentlimit relay 45, having a current coil 46 and a check ,orholding coil 47,is employed .to govern the closure of the accelerating contactors19 to 22, inclusive.

The operation of the control system isbegun by actuatingthe controller 31 toleither position a or position y, in accordance with the direction of operation desiredbythe-operator of the vehicle 11. If, for example, the controller 31 'iseactuated 'to positionc, a circuit is established :from the -ne, ;ative ooniductor'48 through-control fingers 37 and 36, which are bridged by" contact segment 42, control resist0r 49, control rail 44, shoe 5:0,zactuatingc0514? of the relay and actuating coil of the forward operating "re- :lay 51 -to-shoe' 52, wliiohengages the :positi vely e-nergized rail -12.

The actua ing coil of the-reverseoperating relay 531s not'energized, :as botlrof its terminals -arc connectedto the negatively energ ed-con'dnctors' 1 3 and-'48. The actuti-ting coils o 'f the relays 'ol and 53 are so idesigned that the difference in p otential beto effect the closure of the relays '51 and53, Whenthe current must tra-verse both of the actuatingeoils, which-areconnected in series relation across the rails '12 {and 13. The a'ctuat'ing coil 4'7 .o f the :relay device 45 is notsuilioientlyenergized co-actuate the relay 45 when the resistor 49 is in circuit therewith.

When the forward relaybl assumes its upper position a circuit-is established from the: plus rail-12, through s'hoe 52, the lower contact unember oi the reverse relay 53, upper contact member o'f'the forward relay 51 parallel-connected actuating coilsof the forward directional contact-ors 23, 24-, 2 7 and 28, interlock 25-out :and shoe :56, :to' "the negatively energized :rail 13.

*When the iforwar'd directional contactors '23, 24, 27 and 28 assume theirclosed positions, 21- circu-itzis established from the posi tively energized rail 12 through the: actuat' (C011 :ofathe in agnetm device 5'5"that governsathefbrake valve,lintenlock 28-in and the'shoe 56to the rail13. Upon the release ot the brakcs :(not shown), a circuit is established from the i positively energized rail '12 through the shoe 52, wactuating l coil of the line switch 14,

brake i nt TlOClfi5T5-Oil and-shoe" 5 6 :to :the

ely-energized wrail "13. i on i the closure roit'the line switch 14,

" another auxiliary circuit is established from thenpositi-vely' ener iZe'drail1-2 through the actuating :cOFL-l 0." he series :rcontactor L5,

interlocks 14=i-n wand IS-out and shoe 56 to r the rail 13.

parallel relation. The

-tactor.27,1series field-magnet winding 6, forward contactor 28, current coil 46 of relay 45 rand shoe 56 :tornegatively energized rail 13.

hen the above circuit is established, the motors 1 and 2 are connected in series relation with the starting resistors 58 and'59 across the sup-plycircuit.

The motors 1 and 2 are automatically accelerated byz means of suitable interlock- :i -ngvandathe current-limit relay 45. Upon the closure ofthe li-ne sw-itch 14, a circuit is established from the rail 12 through contact .members of the relaywdevice '45, actuating coil" Of IlJlIB :contactor :19, interlock 114-in and lower contact member of the transitional relay 61 to therail 13.

Upon the closure of the accelerating contactor '19, an interlock lf9-irn is provided for :p'reventing- 'the deenergization o'f the actuating coil-lot the contactor 1=9,e-upon"the currentelimitrelay '45 #assumling :its 5 open of the contactor 2O energized upon the open ing o'f thecurrent-limit"relay 45. The actuatingscoils off the contactors 21 and .22 are energized in sequence, inthe same 1 manner asthe actuating coils :ofthe contactors 19 and :20, to effect closure or the contact-ore 21 and 22, in accordance withsteps (Z ands-10f the-sequence chart that is shown in =4.

A'fiGI" the 'starting resistors 58 and 59 :are completely shunted, ithe connections of "mo tors 1 d2 .maybe r by" the "actuating co'il ef thefor msitio-nal contact-or :18 Tb3.l 1'g 61'11 YlZCl by arcircuit that is established from the rail 12 through actuatingwcoil of the rcontactoril8zaand interlocks :22-jn and l6=out=1to the mail 13. The contactor 18 may be equipped w-ithsomewell known time-element device, such, to-reexampile, asea dashapnt 18 tonaaintainc-it closed until groundccontactor 117' closes.

acceleratin icentacto ryr22 from t-he Frail 5.12

e 'd rfroin series to change "as efii ected Another.

circuit: iszestabli'shed:unonzihe closure of the through interlock 22-in and the actuating coil of the relay device 61 to the rail 13.

The relay device 61 is maintainedin its upper position by a holding circuit through the upper contact member of the relay 'de vice. lVhen'the relay device 61 assumes'its upper position,'accelerating contactors 19, 20, 21 and 22 are opened. Theseries contactor 15 has its actuating coil 'de-energized by the interlock 18-out when the contactor 18 assumes its closed position.

Upon the closure of the contactor 18, a circuit is established from the rail 12 through the actuating coil of ground contactor '17 and interlock 18-in to rail 13. A holding circuit for ground contactor 17 is provided by means of the interlock 17 -in. Upon the closure of ground contactor 17, a circuit is established from rail 12 through actuating coil of the contact-or 16 and interlock 17 -in to the rail 13. 4 I

After the closure of the parallel contactor 16, the contactor 18 cannot assume its closed position because of the interlock 16-out.

After the parallel-connected contactors16 and 17 have closed in accordance with the position f of the sequence'chart, the motors may be further accelerated by the contactors 19, 20, 21 and 22 closingin sequence, in accordancewith positions 9, h, z, and 7' of the sequence chart that is shown in Fig;- 4. These four contactors have their actuating coils energized by circuits comprising the interlock l6-in. i The motors have now been brought tof'ull speed. the acceleration of motors 1 and'2 beyond a certain point he may do so by actuating the master controller 31 to position 6, thereby shunting the auxiliary control resistor 49 to increase the current traversing the actuating coils 47 and 51. as explained below. v

The actuating coil of the relay device 47 is. designed to lift the relay device'45 to its open position when the auxiliary resistor 49 is shunted. As the accelerating contactors 19, 20, 21 and 22 cannot close-"so long as the relay device is in its open position, it is apparent that, wheneverthe actuating coil 47 is sufficiently energized to effect the opening of the relay device 45, further acceleration control of the motorsl and 2 will cease.

The operation of the motors land 2 in 'a reverse direction is effected by actuating the controller 31 to position z thereby establishing a circuit from the positive conductor 62 through control fingers 34'and 36, which are bridged by contact segment 41, auxiliary control resistor 49, control rail 44, shoe 50 and actuating coil of the reverse directional $8133 53 to the negative rail 13.

Then the reverse relay 53 assumes its upper position, a circuit is established from rail 12 through upper contact member of reverse directional relay 53 and lower con If the operator desires to prevent tact member of forward directional relay'51, parallel-connected actuating coilsof the contactors 25, 26, 29 and 30, interlock 23-out andshoe 56 tothe rail 13.

Upon energization of the actuating coils of the contactors 25, 26, 29 and 30, closure of the contactors is effected and the actuating coil of the magnetic device is energized through a circuit comprising the interlock 25-in to effect release of the brakes (not shown). The line switch 14 is closed upon the brake interlock 55-off assuming its closed position. The acceleration of the motors 1' and 2 may be effected in the same manner as has previously been described for forward operation thereof; Acceleration of the motors 1 and'2 may be stopped by actuating the controller 31 to positionm thereby shunting the auxiliary resistor 49 to effect opening of the relay device 45, as already set forth.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, a plurality of similarly constructed controllers 31, 31 and 31*, hich are mounted in suit- 7 able towers, are provided for governing the motors 1 and 2. .Interlocks 40 and 43 are provided for de-energizin'g'the positivean d the negative conductors 62 and 48, respectively, leading to subsequent controllers, upon any prior controller being actuated from its Off position.

' Interlock 63 is provided for each of the controllers 31 and 31'to prevent energization of the neutral'conductor 64 by any prior controller in the sequence of operation 31, 31 and 31 upon any subsequent controller in that sequence being actuated from its Off p'ositiong By means of the contact segments 40, 43 and 63, itis apparent that all of the controllers 31, 31? and 31 must be in their Off position except the particular controller that is being actuated by the operator, before the control rail 44 can be'energized. The interlocks 40, .43 and 63 prevent two of the controllers 31,31 and 31 from concurrently governing the operation of the motors 1 and. 2.. Hand-operated switches 65 are provided for openin-gthe positive and the negative conductors 62'and 48 and the neutral conductor 64, when the operator desires to render the control system inopera-v t1ve from any" of the controllers? From the above description, it is'apparent that we 'haveprovided a 'con'trols ystem for a locomotive whereby its speed and direction of operation maybe controlled from any one of a number of stationary controllers, al-

though employing but a single control rail. It is also apparent that We have provided means for protecting a control system from injurious effects that might be caused by concurrently actuating two of the stationary controllers. I

While we have shown our invention in a preferred form, it is apparent that minor modifications may be made in the arrange- Ifint' of circuits and a pparatus employed 7 Without 'Ilep'aitting from the spirit 01 'ou-r invention. Ne I limited only by the "scope of thefiappended claims.

We claim f as==o1 1r invention 1 .1. In a i control syst'emf the I eombin'ation Witha motor, of 'means for accelerating said motor, means for reversing the direction of operation'ef said motor, -and means compris inga single conductor --for. governing both said "directional -means -*-and the -=au-tom'atic operation of said accelerating means. 2.-I=n a control systm,-=the vcombin'at ion with a motor, of-mea11s-for reversing said motor means -for accelerati-ngsaid motor, a plurality of rel-ays 'for governing said reversi-ng and-accelerat-ing means,- and means comprising a single #conducto'r associated ith 'sa'id relays for. governing said reversing n and accelerating means in accordance with the direction and degree-of energiestion; -of said conductor. l p

I #3. ln a control system, "the combination 'WltlF-EL motor, ofnmeans for reversingsaid motor, A zaj-lpl-urality of switches --for acceleratingsaid motor, *and sneans comprising a single control rail for governing -said' reversin'g means --'-'and I accelerating.- switches in accordance With the energiz-ation of said rail. '4

In-a control system, the combination With -amotor, yof n eansforreversing said motor; and plurality of switches for accelerating said motor, o'lj two mai n rails; for

energizingsaid motor and means comprising asingle auxiliary rai l for governi ngsai'd reversing andsaid-"accelerating switches.

5.111 a :control system, the combination with ia-motor, of means 7 tor-reversingsaid motor, *mea'ns vfor automatically a ccelerating said motor, a relaydevice for-renderingsaid accelerating means inoperative; anrl a con troller having a "single -Wire ;-connected to sai-d reversing means said relay device to govern the speed-and direction of operation of said moto'r.

. 6. In a control -system, the combination,

' With'almotor, otmeanseomprisi-ng two-relays having actuatingcoils :for governing the d1rect1on of QPQIittlOIl ofsa1d ;motor, 'said relays having :their -actuating-coils conne ete'd i in series relation, means :comprising'a relay cesire, therefore, to *be atingcoilhaving one of-itsends connectedto adj'atent 'endsf'of said series conn'ected actuating coils, and a controller having a conductor connected to said actuating coil. *7. 1 11 "a control system, the 1 combination with a motor,-"of avplnral-ityof reversing switches, having actnating coils, for governing the direction of operation ofsaid motor, a forward and-a reverse relay for governing the energization of said 'switohes,- each of said relays h'aving "an actnatingcoil, means comprising a plurality of switches for automatically accelerating said motor, a relay devicefor renderingsaid accelerating means inoperative and means c'omprising' a'single conductor for! governingtlie energiz'ation of saidrelay device and the=actuating *coils of Said fQrWard and reverse relays.

8. In a control system, the combination With- =a .-pln'ra'1ityof inotors, of means for reversing said motors, means for "automaticallv *aec'elerati'ng said *motors, mea1is for rendering said accelerating means inoperative, and a single conductor for V-governing said reversing -means' and said inoperativeren-dering means.

-I n-a control system, the combination Wit-ha motor and a plurality of stationary controllers relatively. removed from said motor, each of said controllers having-an Off i positionand a plurality ofoperati-ng positions, of means for renderingallsnbse q'nent I controllers electricallv inoperative uponai prior controller being actuated from its "-O-ll? position.

10. In control system the combinationwitha'motorand a plurality of stationary controllers relatively removed from said subscribed "our names this 9th day of Angust,1921. I

- i ieitingrnf n JOHNSTON.

nominee. P-EABQDY. 

